The Register recently reported that the man who invented the blue LED, Shuji Nakamura, reached an $8.1 million settlement with his former employer, Japanese chemical company Nichia.
Its still a lot less than the $189 million Nakamura was initially awarded, but a decent deal considering.
Second, the headline the Register uses for this story is, “Blue LED boffin wins $8.1m from ex-employer.” I’d just like to add my long-held opinion that the word “boffin” to refer to “a scientist, especially one engaged in research” is simply the coolest word ever in the English language (well, at least the coolest clean word). It is a shame that the word is not used widely in other English-speaking countries besides Great Britain.
According to WordSmith.Org, the term is considered slang and its origins are partially obscured,
If a pocket protector could be considered an official accessory of a nerd, white lab coat, glasses and clipboard would be the equivalent for a boffin. The term first appeared as a moniker given by members of Britain’s Royal Air Force to scientists doing research on radar. But like most slang, the how and why of this are unknown.
Source:
Blue LED boffin wins $8.1m from ex-employer. Tony Smith, The Register, January 13, 2005.